Collaborative Research: Theoretical and observational investigations of multi-point Monin-Obukhov similarity in the convective atmospheric surface layer

该项目研究大气边界层(ABL)-大气的最低部分(白天高度约为1-2公里)。湍流是常见的颠簸飞行的原因，对人类活动和环境造成了巨大的影响。ABL中流行的湍流理论-莫宁-奥布霍夫相似理论(MOST)，虽然在许多方面是成功的，但也有一些重大缺陷。它最突出的问题是无法预测地面附近的大范围风波动，这对许多大气应用产生了负面影响。童博士对这一项目最近提出了一种新的理论，即多点莫宁-奥布霍夫相似理论(MMO)，以克服MOST的缺点。在这个项目中，研究人员将进一步发展这一理论，并开展实地活动，系统地验证这一理论。MMO提供的对ABL湍流的更好的理解和预测对于开发天气预报、空气污染、大气化学和风能的预测模型具有广泛的影响。该项目将为博士后研究人员以及研究生和本科生提供参与该项目所有方面的机会。此外，研究小组将与负责部署一套研究仪器的国家大气研究中心(NCAR)的科学家和工程师合作，在加利福尼亚州凯特尔曼市附近的实地活动现场为K-12年级的学生举办实地考察，以演示如何测量湍流和其他气象变量。研究人员将进一步开发基于第一原理的对白天ABL相似特性的综合预测，以说明观测到的ABL条件的影响并了解其潜在的物理机制。将与NCAR合作开展实地活动，全面测量整个边界层深度的平均速度和温度分布以及表层的湍流谱。测量中将使用一套仪器，包括一个声波风速计阵列，三个多普勒激光雷达，一个气溶胶激光雷达，一个微脉冲激光雷达，一个分布式测温系统，一个无线电声测深系统，一个四轴飞行器温度系统，和无线电探空仪。对于每个统计数据，将使用多个仪器，每个仪器覆盖不同的高度范围或比例范围，以实现所需的总体高度和比例范围。然后，现场数据将被用来系统地验证尺度预测，并建立湍流谱和平均廓线的MMO相似函数的理论和函数形式中的(展开)系数。这一奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This project investigates the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL)---the lowest portion of the atmosphere (approximately 1-2 km in height during daytime). Turbulence, which is responsible for commonly experienced bumpy flights, has an enormous impact on human activities and the environment. The prevailing theory of the turbulence in the ABL---the Monin-Obukhov similarity theory (MOST), while successful in many respects, has some major shortcomings. Its most glaring issue is its inability to predict large-scale wind fluctuations near the ground, which negatively impact many atmospheric applications. Dr. Tong on this proposed project has recently developed a new theory, the multi-point Monin-Obukhov similarity theory (MMO), to overcome shortcomings of MOST. In this project the researchers will further develop the theory and conduct a field campaign to systematically verify it. An improved understanding and prediction of the ABL turbulence provided by MMO can have wide-ranging implications for developing predictive models for weather forecasting, air pollution, atmospheric chemistry, and wind energy. The project will provide opportunities for a postdoctoral researcher and graduate and undergraduate students to participate in all aspects of the project. In addition, in collaboration with scientists and engineers from the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) responsible for deploying a suite of research instruments, the research team will host field trips for K-12 students at the field campaign site near Kettleman City, CA, to demonstrate how turbulence and other meteorological variables are measured. The researchers will further develop comprehensive first-principles-based predictions of the similarity properties of the daytime ABL to account for the influences of observed ABL conditions and to understand the underlying physics. A field campaign will be carried out in collaboration with NCAR to make comprehensive measurements of the mean velocity and temperature profiles throughout the depth of the boundary layer and the turbulence spectra in the surface layer. A suite of instruments including a sonic anemometer array, three Doppler lidars, an aerosol lidar, a micro-pulse lidar, a distributed temperature measurement system, a radio acoustic sounding system, a quadcoptor temperature system, and radiosondes will be used in the measurements. For each statistic, multiple instruments will be used, with each instrument covering a different height range or a scale range to achieve the overall height and scale ranges needed. The field data will then be used to systematically verify the scaling prediction and establish the (expansion) coefficients in the theory and the functional forms of the MMO similarity functions for turbulence spectra and mean profiles.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.